Cellulitis

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mobscene207
mobscene207 Member Posts: 44
edited February 2019 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I'm so frustrated right now!

After 11 weeks of taxol/abraxane with very manageable side effects, this week has been AWFUL. Vomited after treatment Thursday, then could not get off the couch Thursday or Friday. This morning, I woke up looking like I had been in a barroom brawl - half of my face swollen and red. Quickly got to my treatment center, where they diagnosed cellulitis. I'm on antibiotics and hope to start feeling better soon. But holy cow - I've never felt anywhere near this bad in my life.

Just venting

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  • reflect
    reflect Member Posts: 576
    edited August 2018

    So sorry for your cellulitis, it really is awful. I just got home today from 2 days on IV antibiotics for cellulitis that appeared full blown from nowhere. Please take care and check back in

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  • GladToBeAlive
    GladToBeAlive Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2018

    After nearly 2 years after my original lumpectomy (Jan. 2017), on Dec. 2, 2018, I came down with a sudden onset serious case of breast cellulitis and ended up in the ER with emergency surgery the following morning. The ultrasound showed a 3 cm abscess, and I've been on antibiotics the past 25 days: vancomyacin (IV drip), clindomycin, and finally bactrim. I was hospitalized for 5 days. I currently have an open wound the size of a dime which I see a wound care specialist for 3x/week. This occurred at the original site of my lumpectomy!

    Why did this happen?

    The surgeon and oncologist said because my immune system is so low due to not only the surgery/chemo/radiation I went through in 2017, but also because I have severe Ulcerative Colitis, and am on Entivyo infusions every 8 weeks for that! The Entivyo infusions really do help keep my UC in remission, but it is also an immuno-suppressant, so this breast cellulitis "popped up" out of nowhere!

    Very scary! I feel like I'm not as healthy as I thought I was. This all started with a stressful work load; two out of town trips two weekends in a row; some family drama, and I got a cold/cough. I was 16 days late on my Entivyo infusion (due to the infusion company's error with paperwork), & my colitis quickly returned. Within 24 hours of my Entivyo infusion, this cellulitis occurred.

    Anyone else out there with struggles like this?

    with cellulitis occurring years after you're done with treatment?

    with managing post-cancer with another chronic disease?

    Does it ever get better? I feel like I'm on the edge of a precipice, going to live my life, but going to drop like a fly when stress comes my way.

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  • reflect
    reflect Member Posts: 576
    edited December 2018

    Hi GladToBeAlive

    I’m sorry you have to manage another chronic illness along with bc. It stinks. There is a forum for others in the same situation, it might be helpful to you. My last cellulitis episode was over two years post treatment, so, yeah. But I have lymphedema, and fluid build up in my arm and breast is a protein rich environment for bacteria to chow down. Do you have lymphedema also? Might be worth checking out, as routine care can limit cellulitis.

    Good luck

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  • TaRenee
    TaRenee Member Posts: 464
    edited January 2019

    I have a very sore and red nose. It looks broken. Kinda feels that way too. Went to urgent care yesterday and he says cellulitis of the face. What the heck? I’m on antibiotics now. Got to my MO tomorrow. How long can I expect this to last. I teach and the kids are getting a heck of a giggle. I told them they should see the other guy. Ughhhhh. Really. Cellulitis. Of. The. Face. Please tell me it gets better fast

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  • mobscene207
    mobscene207 Member Posts: 44
    edited January 2019

    It does get better quickly! I had IV antibiotics when I was diagnosed, and then RX antibiotics at home. I felt much better after 48 hours. It took about a week for the redness to clear up. It's crazy how quickly it comes on, isn't it?

    I hope you feel better soon!

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  • TaRenee
    TaRenee Member Posts: 464
    edited January 2019

    Thank you! I have been on antibiotics since Monday night. It is clearing up some. At least some of the swelling has gone down so it doesn’t hurt as bad. But I look like I have a black eye. At least it is getting better. How does that start up? It really came out of nowhere! I hadn’t really even heard of it before. (PS. Don’t look it up online. It will scare the crap right out of you!) I don’t know what caused it or why me... but at least I wasn’t so bull headed that I wouldn’t go to the doctor. MO said if I had waited till today to get it checked out it would have landed me right in the hospital. I’m okay without that

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  • mobscene207
    mobscene207 Member Posts: 44
    edited February 2019

    Glad you acted quickly!

    Mine was caused by a teeny, tiny cut in my ear. My white counts were so low, my body couldn't fight off an infection and it blew up into cellulitis. Not fun!

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  • TaRenee
    TaRenee Member Posts: 464
    edited February 2019

    So I went to my MO and bloodwork is okay. He put me on a stronger antibiotic because the cellulitis moved from one side of my nose to the other. I don’t know how or why. I’ve barely been able to wash my face it hurt so bad! But the good news is that it looks better and all my bloodwork came out pretty okay. I’m on a new antidepressant and am upping my vitamin d and adding b12. Hopefully we find the right combination soon

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  • reflect
    reflect Member Posts: 576
    edited February 2019

    Hi TaRenee, I’ve had two out of nowhere cellulitis episodes, with hospitalization both times. We are blaming lymphedema of my arm and trunk which I certainly have. But my PCP wants me to consult with specialist b/c the onset is crazy fast and presentation is odd. I would be concerned about cellulitis in my face—really would want to know what caused that. Can you follow up with someone more experienced with cellulitis? Just to know causes and how (maybe) it can be prevented. Wishing you good luck

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  • TaRenee
    TaRenee Member Posts: 464
    edited February 2019

    I am trying to get in with my PCP and have him check it out. I was terrified after I looked it up online (don’t do it!) and I’m on the wait list for a cancellation. Otherwise it will be a few weeks and I don’t really want to wait that long.

    MO said he had never heard of it in the face but it wasn’t necessarily unusual for the fast onset. Ugh. Doctors.

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  • reflect
    reflect Member Posts: 576
    edited February 2019

    Let us know what happens, and good luck. I am getting tired of all the side effects of the side effects of my cancer treatments

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  • TaRenee
    TaRenee Member Posts: 464
    edited February 2019

    I am finally feeling better. My nose doesn’t hurt anymore and the swelling on both sides seems to have finally gone down. I ended up on a second round of antibiotics and that is what took care of it I guess. Now I’m scared of getting it again. I have no idea what caused it, I wasn’t sick or anything. I agree. I am tired of the side effects of the medication I have to take for cancer. I would so love a good, solid, full night of sleep. (And not to worry if I do sleep that something is wrong because that isn’t normal for me anymore). But, at least I got past this round. Onward and upward

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited February 2019

    Add me to the list of cellulitis sufferers :(

    I had a minor procedure for some post partum complications on Tuesday. ( I have an 11 month old) By Wednesday night my left foob side was completely red, hot, and swollen. Thursday morning I went straight to my plastic surgeon and she said she thought the implant was infected, put me on multiple IV antibiotics and added me to her OR list for Friday. This is the implant from 5 years ago!!! First night away from my precious baby was not for a hot date, but for surgical prep :(

    Long story short, they did an ultrasound right before surgery and were shocked that the implant was totally fine! Narrowly escaped surgery! I will be on antibiotics for 10 days. It already is looking like normal again.

    My PS said it was likely caused by the surgery on Tuesday and now I need prophylactic antibiotics for any procedure. No matter which end it's on ;)

    Boo! My cancer side implant already had issues and extruded so I am lopsided and will likely do a flap surgery next year.

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  • TaRenee
    TaRenee Member Posts: 464
    edited February 2019

    clarrn I’m sorry you had to go through that scare! Thank goodness they figured out you didn’t need surgery. My MO cautioned me that now that I’ve HAD cellulitis I will be more prone to get it again if I have injuries or infections. Cancer and treatments, the unwanted gifts that keep giving.

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  • PaulaAtlantaGA
    PaulaAtlantaGA Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2019

    Ladies,

    I have cellulitis without a fever, without any pain, but without any response to antibiotics. It's on my left breast (I had DMX, but TNBC was in right breast). I was on Keflex pills for a week: no change. I've been on two IV antibiotics [Ertapenem and Daptomycin] for almost two weeks: no change. The ultrasound did not show any fluid beneath the red skin. My plastic surgeon wants to go back in and "clean it out," putting in a new implant. My surgery switching TE with implants was only 5 weeks ago. After absolutely no change with these powerful antibiotics , what would you do or advise?

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  • reflect
    reflect Member Posts: 576
    edited February 2019

    Hi Paula, I hope this has resolved for you already,but if not I would see a doc familiar with cellulitis, and/or your oncologist, not a plastic surgeon. I have had cellulitis without fever or pain several times (though it ends up with pain eventually) IV vancomycin was helpful in my case. My cellulitis seems to get serious all of a sudden, so please take care

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited February 2019

    Paula- I had a similar situation on my right side 4 weeks after TE exchange. 4 weeks of IV antibiotics and no improvement. I woke up sometime in the 5th week with my implant extruding and had to have the implant out and open wound packing for 6 months. Because you are so close to your surgery date it is probable that the implant surface is infected and not just a cellulitis. Your surgeon's plan very well may save you the 6 months of packing I endured. Infection moves differently and more rapidly on an implant than in regular tissue, so in my case the oncologist/ER physician/ and Intensivist all deferred to the plastic surgeon.

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